This case study investigates evaluates the environmental impacts and stakeholder conflicts of the Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah artificial islands. In 2001, Dubai pursued a political strategy to diversify their economy towards tourism and real-estate. While the islands generated economic activity, there were also environmental implications, including loss of biodiversity, shoreline erosion, and water circulation change.

The environmental changes exacerbated socio-economic disparities within Dubai, where the effects weren’t felt by the direct users of the artificial islands, but rather, the neighboring shoreline communities and marine life. It was also found that developers valued short term economic gain over long term climate complications. It is thus imperative for nations and developers who are interested in pursuing artificial island development projects, in the future, to understand the cumulative effects on the land, climate, communities, and economy before proceeding.